France-headquartered Drone Volt has unveiled its Hercules 100 heavy-lift cargo drone, combining an aluminium-and-carbon chassis with a payload capacity of up to 100 kilogrammes (kg). Introduced in flight at the UAV Show in Bordeaux on October 9, 2026, the foldable octocopter is designed for industrial logistics, civil protection, firefighting and defence. Designed and assembled in France, the aircraft marks the company’s move from the 25 kilogrammes class to a 100 kilogrammes payload platform. Aluminium and carbon highlight the design The Hercules 100 has a maximum take-off weight of 197 kg. It weighs 52 kg without batteries and 97 kg with its battery pack, leaving capacity for a full 100 kg payload. Its chassis combines aluminium and carbon fibre, with a wheelbase of 3,300 mm. When...
Bering Yachts has presented the first hull of its BC60 aluminium explorer catamaran, marking the shipyard’s move to a twin-hull platform while retaining the long-range capability and structural robustness associated with its established explorer vessels. The 18.9-metre vessel has already been delivered and is afloat, with founder and CEO Alexei Mikhailov providing a detailed walkthrough of its design and onboard systems. Measuring 18.9 metres (60 feet) in length overall, with an 8.6-metre beam, the BC60 is designed as a displacement explorer rather than a high-speed production catamaran. Its all-aluminium construction, shallow draft and substantial fuel capacity are intended to support extended passages and greater autonomy at sea. The vessel has a draft of 1.58 metres and carries more...
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US-based Merritt, one of the leading manufacturers of livestock and gooseneck trailers, with a legacy spanning nearly 75 years, has announced a strategic move that aims to strengthen its foothold and expand capabilities across aluminium truck accessories. The Merritt family of companies comprising of Merritt Aluminum Products and Merritt Trailers announced the acquisition of Magnum Trailer & Equipment, a renowned British Columbia-based company. With this acquisition, the company now employs around than 520 team members across North America, with operations spanning five locations and over 400,000 square feet of production and service center space. This strategic alignment will enable the combined team to offer a comprehensive, front-to-back aluminium solution for customers in the...
Schon Doorways is stepping onto the global stage with its first wave of international exports, marking a significant milestone in the brand's journey toward worldwide recognition. With early shipments already delivered to key markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Malaysia, the company is rapidly establishing a presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This strategic expansion reinforces Schon Doorways' unwavering commitment to becoming a global leader in sustainable building materials, offering innovative solutions that meet the growing demand for eco-conscious construction worldwide. Ajay Balakrishna, Founder and CEO at Schon Doorways, said, "The need for aluminium fenestration solutions striking a perfect balance between design, durability, and sustainability is...
Home is where life unfolds—and it all begins at the front door. More than just an entryway, it's a gateway to the moments that matter. And this is what Larson Manufacturing, the US-headquartered company, has been delivering for 70 years. Carrying on its legacy, the company has recently unveiled its latest innovation – the 60 MT Maximum View storm door. Merging minimalist style with exceptional strength, the brand new launch features a heavy-duty aluminium frame. It delivers 5 per cent more glass area than comparable models, inviting more natural light and offering panoramic views. The aluminium door and window market is largely propelled by rising consumer demand for energy-efficient and sustainable building materials. Additionally, government policies encouraging green construction and...
US-based Carroll Shelby Engine Company, known for manufacturing specialised high-performance aluminium engines, has recently announced a major upgrade for its 289 V8 crate engine. The engine has been bored and stroked to increase its displacement to 364 cubic inches. As a result, it now produces over 470 bhp on 91-octane pump gas. This engine is a modern, high-performance reproduction of the same engine used in the legendary Shelby Cobra, one of the most iconic sports cars of the 1960s. The upgraded engine is equipped with SCAT H-beam connecting rods, Mahle PowerPak 4032 aluminium pistons, a custom-ground hydraulic roller camshaft, a Quick Fuel Brawler 750 CFM carburettor, a Moroso Performance oil pan, and an MSD ignition system. Most of the engines from the Carroll Shelby Engine Company...
Cloud Beauty Innovation Hub will unveil its latest sustainable packaging solutions at LUXEPACK New York 2025, which will take place on 7-8 May at the Javits Centre. The company aims to showcase eco-conscious designs for the beauty and personal care industry. Image source: parispackagingweek A key highlight is their all-aluminium cosmetic and accessories packaging line. Crafted entirely from 100% recyclable aluminium, it offers a minimalist aesthetic. This design aligns with circular economy principles, ensuring durability and sophistication. Another innovation is 'Sludge', a material composed of over 70 per cent pre-consumer recycled reservoir mud from Taiwan. With a metallic-like texture and stone-like appearance, it's suitable for luxury applications like perfume caps. Sludge has been...
Ball Corporation, the world’s leading aluminium packaging manufacturer for beverage, personal care and household products, has announced the first quarter 2025 results, reporting a year-on-year decline in net earnings attributable to the corporation. According to the data revealed, net earnings in Q1 2025 were USD 179 million, compared to USD 3.69 billion a year ago. Image source: Ball Corporation Notably, net earnings decreased over the year despite increased sales from USD 2.87 billion in Q1 2024 to USD 3.1 billion in Q1 2025. However, the company’s comparable net earnings were relatively stable on a Y-o-Y basis, amounting to USD 216 million in Q1 2025 versus USD 217 million in Q1 2024. Ball’s chairman and chief executive officer, Daniel W. Fisher, acknowledges this decline is due to...
Digger Specialties Inc. (DSI), a prominent name in North America's aluminium railing manufacturing sector, has strengthened its market presence through a new strategic alliance with American Lumber. The company, known for manufacturing aluminium and vinyl railing, fencing, gates, and aluminium architectural columns, aims to mark its presence in the Northeast market (Northeastern markets in North America encompass both the US and Canada). DSI offers the industry's most comprehensive range of aluminium railing solutions through its Westbury® product line, designed to combine safety, style, and an uninterrupted view. Whether it's the vertical cable infill of VertiCable or the sleek horizontal lines of Bella Cavo, these innovative cable railing options cater to the growing demand for modern,...
On May 5, 2025, Ford Motor Company suspended its annual guidance for stakeholders due to the rising uncertainty created by Trump's tariffs. As per the authorities, the current tariffs would levy the company with a loss of nearly USD 1.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and tax. Is it the beginning of the automobile industry's decline or rise? Image source: Yallamotor.com After the closure of the US stock trading sessions, the company's share was deemed to fall about 2.3 per cent in the after-hours trading session. In addition to this, the imposed tariff by Trump is determined to increase the overall cost for the year by more than USD 2.5 billion. The majority of the cost would be incurred while importing the automobiles from countries like China and Mexico. As of now, the...
Swedish battery manufacturer Novo Energy’s partial owner, Northvolt, has filed for bankruptcy, citing over USD 8 billion in debt, which has in turn led to an unfortunate announcement of a 50 per cent staff layoff by the company. Image source: iStock The company struggled to secure funding to ramp up production at its Skelleftea plant. This development has significantly impacted its joint venture with Volvo Cars, which focuses on aluminium-based battery solutions. Northvolt's financial troubles stemmed from high operational costs and difficulties in scaling production. The company could not stabilise its operations despite substantial investments from stakeholders like Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs. The bankruptcy has raised concerns about the future of aluminium battery technology in...
As geopolitical tensions are on the rise and the subsequent pandemic era disrupts business growth, Tesla is quietly exploring alternative suppliers in India as it diversifies its semiconductor supply chain away from China. Sources report that Tesla has held talks with three major Indian chip ventures – US memory giant Micron’s new Gujarat assembly/testing plant, CG Semi (a Murugappa Group-led OSAT project), and Tata Electronics. Image Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/ Micron’s USD 2.7 billion Gujarat facility is slated for automotive-grade chip assembly and test , CG Semi’s Sanand unit (a JV with Japan’s Renesas and Taiwan’s Stars Microelectronics) will perform outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) for Renesas and others, and Tata Electronics has announced massive investments...
Re:Water, the British spring water brand known for its 100 per cent recycled aluminium bottles, has expanded its product line with a new 330ml bottle. This addition caters to the hospitality industry's growing need for sustainable, premium alternatives to single-use plastics. The new 330ml bottle, available in both still and sparkling variants, complements Re:Water's existing 500ml offering. A larger 750ml bottle is also slated for release later this year. Designed for reuse and full recyclability, the sleek aluminium bottle aligns with eco-conscious initiatives across various sectors. A survey involving over 2,000 UK adults and 1,300 professionals in the hotel and travel sectors revealed that 78 per cent of consumers prefer aluminium packaging over single-use plastic or glass....
Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP), a global leader in supplying sustainable and infinitely recyclable metal beverage cans, has reported strong performance for the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025) supported by global shipments growth, region-wise growth and double-digit Adjusted EBITDA per cent growth. As per Oliver Graham, CEO of AMP, "Our first quarter performance represents a strong start to the year, with 6 per cent global shipments growth and double-digit Adjusted EBITDA % growth versus the prior year, ahead of our initial guidance." The Luxembourg-based company achieved revenue of $1,268 million for the three months ended March 31 2025, marking an increase of $127 million, or 11 per cent, compared to $1,141 million in the same period last year. On a constant currency basis, revenue rose by...
Born from a relentless pursuit of perfection, Porsche has added another feather to its existing collection of products. The brand known for its cutting-edge vehicles has introduced an aluminium suitcase collection, drawing both aesthetic and engineering inspiration from one of Stuttgart's most celebrated creations: the 911 Targa. The word "Stuttgart" in the Porsche logo directly references the city of Stuttgart, Germany, home to Porsche's headquarters. For anyone who dreams of owning a Porsche, one model of the sports car edition which often comes to mind is the iconic 911—a replica of thrilling performance and everyday practicality for the past 60 years. Dubbed as the Roadster Aluminum collection, the suitcase is inspired by Targa's iconic brushed aluminium roll bar—which redefined...
Europe’s pluckiest penny-pincher in the skies, Ryanair, has donned its boxing gloves this week and squared up to Boeing. In a letter to a senior US lawmaker, chief executive Michael O’Leary declared that if President Trump’s plan to impose tariffs goes ahead, Ryanair might just give Boeing the cold shoulder on its 330 737 MAX orders, worth over USD 30 billion on sticker price. Image Source: https://centreforaviation.com/ In what might be described as a strongly worded message, Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, penned a letter to a senior US lawmaker that essentially reads like a “it’s not me, it’s your president” note. “If the US government proceeds with its ill-judged plan to impose tariffs, and if these tariffs materially affect the price of Boeing aircraft exports to Europe,...
Asahi Beverages, a member of Asahi Group Holdings, has launched a state-of-the-art canning system at Yatala brewery in Queensland to meet the rising consumer preference for aluminium cans over stubbies. The $60 million production line can produce over two million cans per day, including popular brands such as Great Northern, Victoria Bitter, and Carlton Dry. With an annual capacity of 400 million cans, the new line marks a major expansion of the Yatala facility's capabilities. Located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Yatala is Australia's largest brewery. Sustainability remains a key focus for Asahi, which has committed to purchasing 40,000 MWh of renewable energy annually for eight years starting in 2023. "This new canning line is a major investment in south-east Queensland...
What if every bottle you returned helped build a cleaner, greener future? That’s exactly the vision the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) brought to life with the launch of its ambitious Bottle Return Scheme in 2023. In collaboration with Sparklo, its strategic oversight partner and cleantech leader, the initiative has sparked a city-wide shift in sustainability—recovering over 2,000 tonnes of bottles and amassing a remarkable 23 million recyclables in 2024 alone. Out of this, 18,000 kg were aluminium, and 544,000 kg were plastic. Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo, said, “The partnership with EAD exemplifies the success of government-private sector collaboration. With EAD’s unwavering support, we have expanded the RVM network, contributing directly to Abu Dhabi’s...
Sidel has introduced the EvoFILL Can Compact, a high-performance and versatile filling solution tailored for premium beverage producers, including those in the beer and carbonated soft drink industries. This cutting-edge system is engineered to address the rising demand for high-quality, flexible filling solutions in the rapidly growing beverage industry. EvoFILL Can Compact also meets the growing demand for flexibility, efficiency, and adaptability, particularly in low-to-medium speed production environments, with capabilities of up to 40,000 cans per hour. As per Global Data, Packaging Global Report, beverage production globally is on the rise, with alcoholic beverage volumes expected to reach 492.1 billion units, and non-alcoholic packaging is projected to hit 1.3 trillion units by...
Capral Aluminium is on a roll – from developing Shop.Capral the online gateway for premium quality aluminium solutions to launching its latest cutting-edge Revit 3D Library, the company is going everyway to empowering architecture. Developed in collaboration with IGS BIM Solutions—Australia’s leading experts in BIM content—and informed by feedback from leading architectural firms, the Capral Revit 3D Library offers a high-performance, user-friendly solution for seamlessly integrating aluminium windows and doors into Revit-based design workflows. The library is a powerful digital resource that elevates architectural design. Featuring a comprehensive range of commercial windows, doors, glazing systems, and curtain walls, this high-performance BIM content is purpose-built to align with...
